Text better with a face to go with your message

Everyone who texts knows that sometimes the emotion behind your message is misconstrued. Some Cambridge scientists have come up with a solution: a talking head who can convey your intended emotions. NBC’s Michelle Kosinski reports.

Personal Drones to Smart Socks, CES's Coolest Gadgets

Consumer Electronics Show: Smaller, Smarter, Faster

Oculus CEO: It's Still 'Day Zero' For Virtual Reality

This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>>and now to what could be the future of texting. messages that put a human face on your texts. nbc's
michelle kosinski
is in london with this story. michelle, good morning.

>>hi, willie. unfortunately, who hasn't had this experience? you send a quick e-mail, a hasty text, but the emotion behind your words is lost or worse yet, it is misconstrued. well, some cambridge scientists are taking this seriously. they've created this
computer model
, and they want to put a talking, breathing human face on your
text messages
.

>>so nice to meet you.

>> reporter: ah.

>>it still needs a bit of work.

>> reporter: type in anything.

>>i will be your future best friend.

>> reporter: add as much emotion you want.

>>my favorite emotion is panic. we thought we'd mix a little bit of fear with anger.

>>someone please help me. i lost my passport.

>> reporter: and a computer shapes the face and voice that could become the way we send messages with a tad more emotion than these guys, anyway. make it sound really sad, really sad.

>>that's about 100% sad now.

>>i'm going to be late for dinner tonight.

>> reporter: quite convincing. playing with this thing is irzis bible.

>>why did you have to wake me up at
5:00 a.m
.? you know i like to sleep in.

>> reporter: and this is the real zoe, the actress reading 7,000 phrases.

>>record the same phrase six times in those different emotions.

>> reporter: giving the computer the building blocks to say what you'd like, how you'd like.

>>supercalifragilistic- expialidocious.

>>a little bit weird.

>> reporter: and real emotions are so complex.

>>i love you so much.

>> reporter: it often takes a sort of cocktail. a little bit angry. why did you try that mix?